Thankful Thursday

Since I missed Gratituesday this week, I am going to tell you what I am thankful for today.

Remember those Baby Einstein DVD's that were aimed at the new moms with newborns, playing on their emotions and mom-guilt?

They made outrageous claims that if you sat your baby in front of the tv and turned on one of their DVD's, your child would grow up to be a genius.

A friend loaned me one, and I thought it was pretty crazy to watch, but the baby (number 3) at the time seemed to like the music, and it allowed me some time to clean up the kitchen.

Well now, makers of the Baby Einstein DVD's are admitting that having your baby watch one of their DVD's will NOT make them a genius.

No duh!

Seriously, I hope nobody really believed that claim!!

The part I am thankful for, is that they have issued a recall on any Baby Einstein DVD's you have laying around. You do not need the receipt, and you can get back $15.99, or some other coupons/Disney store incentives.

Get your Baby Einstein DVD Refund form here, and send back those useless movies. Instead you can read to your baby, play with your baby, cuddle with your baby, and love your baby....that's what matters in the end!

(I must admit, I do like their Little Einstein series for toddlers!)

WWW: Week 5

The Good:

Sunday - walked 7 miles.

Monday - Ran 2 miles and took 1 hour kickboxing class.

Tuesday - Ran 2.3 miles and took 1 hour kickboxing class.

The Bad:

Got sick.

Didn't exercise for the rest of the week.

Ate whatever I wanted, during the times I actually had an appetite.

The Results:

I didn't weigh in this weekend because I was still sick.

My scale at home seemed like I stayed the same, but official weigh-in will wait until next week.

Some of you have asked about how I find time to exercise, so here's my typical weekly schedule:

Sunday: Kickboxing Class (after morning Mass)

Monday: Kickboxing Class (at night, when kids are in bed)

Tuesday: Kickboxing Class (at night, when kids are in bed)

Wednesday: Run (either outside when Phil gets home from work, or at the gym when kids are in bed)

Thursday: Day off (or I'll do some light weights/abs at home at night)

Friday: Run (either outside when Phil gets home from work, or at the gym when kids are in bed)

Saturday: Kickboxing Class (in morning)

Sometimes I get to the gym a little before class starts, so I'll run a mile or two as a warm-up. During my kickboxing classes, I hold 2 pound weights in each hand to increase the calorie burn and tone my arms.

I have to exercise a lot at night because Phil leaves for work at 5:45 am, and there's no way I'm gonna wake up earlier to exercise!!! But if your spouse doesn't leave until later, you can squeeze in some exercise in the morning, or do a DVD workout at nap time, or once the kids are in bed. I really believe everyone has the time to exercise, you just have to make it a priority!!

OK, that's my two cents. Hope you're all doing well :)

Not Only, But Also

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my husband!!

Not only because he brings me beautiful roses when I am sick,

But also because he brings me beautiful roses when I'm sick.

Thanks bay for all you do :)

Hi Lo: November 6th

In reverse order today...

LO:

A virus has spread through our family

HI:

Only Maggie and I are still getting over it. The boys have made it through and are back to normal.

Sorry so short, this cold medicine makes me feel weird!

What were your highs and lows this week?

WWJD?

I went to Mass on Sunday at a different Catholic church than I usually go to, and the Priest made some announcements at the beginning of Mass regarding the Swine Flu.

He said that:

1) The Church pews would be cleaned thoroughly a few times a week (Great!)

2) We would not touch at the Sign of Peace (I agree)

3) If you are sick, the most charitable thing to do would be to stay at home (Again, I agree)

4) For the Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist, there would be hand sanitizer available to clean your hands before and after distributing Holy Communion. (Super!)

5) There would be no more Holy Water to bless yourself with. Instead, they have bottles of hand sanitizer in its place. (Ummm, now we're getting a little neurotic)

6) Although it's not forbidden, he highly discourages receiving Our Lord by mouth.

Ok, this last one is when I got a little peeved. When I was younger, I used to ALWAYS receive Communion in my hands. Until one day I heard a priest talk about how we should receive in the mouth because it truly is JESUS we are receiving, and it is more reverent and less risky to receive the host directly in your mouth (less chance of it falling or breaking).

Also, only the priests hands should be touching Our Lord as they have been Ordained...who are we to handle Jesus Christ in the flesh? I certainly am not worthy. Yes, there are lay people who distribute Communion by hand, but they are called Extraordinary Ministers for a reason...because they are only supposed to distribute Communion when there is an extraordinary need, and not enough Priests are available.

I made it a point one Lent to start receiving by mouth only. It was a sacrifice for me because I felt uncomfortable and nervous doing it, but I truly felt that it was a more noble way to receive the Precious Body. And since then I have never gone back to receiving in my unworthy hands.

Until this past Sunday. It just felt wrong to me, and I wish I had opened my mouth instead, but I was trying to be respectful of the Priest's wishes.

I know this sounds naive, but I honestly don't believe that God would allow an illness to be spread through His Most Sacred Body. Just like I don't think we can catch germs from drinking from a shared cup of His Blood. Call me crazy, I probably am. But from now on , I am receiving Jesus's Body and Blood by mouth only.